Europium-activated phosphors containing oxides of rare-earth and group-IIIB metals and method of making the same

United States Patent

Europium-activated phosphors comprise oxides of at least a rare-earth metal selected from the group consisting of gadolinium, yttrium, lanthanum, and combinations thereof and at least a Group-IIIB metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gallium, indium, and combinations thereof. A method for making such phosphors comprises adding at least a halide of at least one of the selected Group-IIIB metals in a starting mixture. The method further comprises firing the starting mixture in an oxygen-containing atmosphere. The phosphors produced by such a method exhibit improved absorption in the UV wavelength range and improved quantum efficiency.

This invention was first conceived or reduced to practice in the performance of work under contract DE-FC26-99FT40632 awarded by the United States Department of Energy. The United States of America may have certain rights to this invention.